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Homeschooling in Colorado: what the law requires and who pays

Colorado Revised Statutes 22-33-104.5 recognizes home-based education as a legitimate alternative to classroom attendance. We have not found an official source saying a Colorado program pays homeschooled students.

Quoted from official sources, read October 8, 2026. A law summary, not legal advice.

What Colorado’s law requires

The law that allows it

Colorado Revised Statutes 22-33-104.5 recognizes home-based education as a legitimate alternative to classroom attendance.

“It is recognized that home-based education is a legitimate alternative to classroom attendance for the instruction of children” Colorado Revised Statutes 22-33-104.5, home-based education (reprinted by the Colorado Department of Education)

A child in a nonpublic home-based educational program is not subject to compulsory school attendance under article 33, with an exception for children who were habitually truant before starting.

“A child who is participating in a nonpublic home-based educational program is not subject to compulsory school attendance as provided in this article 33” Colorado Revised Statutes 22-33-104.5, home-based education (reprinted by the Colorado Department of Education)

Telling the state or district

The parent gives written notice to any Colorado school district 14 days before starting the program, and again each year the program continues.

“shall provide written notification of the establishment of said program to a school district within the state fourteen days prior to the establishment of said program and each year thereafter if the program is maintained” Colorado Revised Statutes 22-33-104.5, home-based education (reprinted by the Colorado Department of Education)

The notice states only each child's name, age, place of residence and number of hours of attendance.

“shall certify, in writing, only a statement containing the name, age, place of residence, and number of hours of attendance of each child enrolled in said program” Colorado Revised Statutes 22-33-104.5, home-based education (reprinted by the Colorado Department of Education)

What and how long to teach

The program must include at least 172 days of instruction, averaging four instructional contact hours per day.

“A nonpublic home-based educational program shall include no less than one hundred seventy-two days of instruction, averaging four instructional contact hours per day.” Colorado Revised Statutes 22-33-104.5, home-based education (reprinted by the Colorado Department of Education)

Required subjects include reading, writing and speaking, mathematics, history, civics, literature, science and the U.S. Constitution.

“shall include, but need not be limited to, communication skills of reading, writing, and speaking, mathematics, history, civics, literature, science, and regular courses of instruction in the constitution of the United States” Colorado Revised Statutes 22-33-104.5, home-based education (reprinted by the Colorado Department of Education)

Testing or evaluation

Each child is evaluated in grades 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11, either by a nationally standardized achievement test or by a qualified person.

“Each child participating in a nonpublic home-based educational program shall be evaluated when such child reaches grades three, five, seven, nine, and eleven.” Colorado Revised Statutes 22-33-104.5, home-based education (reprinted by the Colorado Department of Education)

Results go to the school district that received the notice, or to an independent or parochial school in Colorado.

“The test or evaluation results, whichever is appropriate, shall be submitted to the school district that received the notification required by paragraph (e) of this subsection (3) or an independent or parochial school within the state of Colorado.” Colorado Revised Statutes 22-33-104.5, home-based education (reprinted by the Colorado Department of Education)

The department says homeschooled students do not have to take Colorado's state tests, though a parent may ask the district to let the child take part.

“Homeschool students are not required to take Colorado's standardized tests; however the parent may request of their local school district that their child participate.” Colorado Department of Education, Frequently Asked Questions about Home Schooling

Records to keep

The parent keeps permanent records, including attendance, test and evaluation results, and immunization records.

“The records shall include, but need not be limited to, attendance data, test and evaluation results, and immunization records” Colorado Revised Statutes 22-33-104.5, home-based education (reprinted by the Colorado Department of Education)

Who may teach

Instruction is given by the parent or an adult relative the parent designates, and that person does not need a Colorado teaching license.

“A parent or an adult relative designated by a parent to provide instruction in a nonpublic home-based educational program shall not be subject to the requirements of the "Colorado Educator Licensing Act of 1991"” Colorado Revised Statutes 22-33-104.5, home-based education (reprinted by the Colorado Department of Education)

Ages the law covers

A parent does not have to give notice until the child is 6, start the program until the child is 7, or continue it after the child is 16.

“until the parent's child is six years of age; (II) Establish the program until the parent's child is seven years of age; or (III) Continue the program or provide the notification after the child is sixteen years of age” Colorado Revised Statutes 22-33-104.5, home-based education (reprinted by the Colorado Department of Education)

The state’s own page for families: Colorado Department of Education, Homeschool and Part-Time Programs.

State money for homeschoolers in Colorado

We have not found an official source saying a Colorado program pays homeschooled students.

Programs that do not pay homeschoolers

No state homeschool funding. The Colorado Department of Education says there is no public funding available for homeschool. (Colorado Department of Education, Frequently Asked Questions about Home Schooling)

School choice in Colorado Private schools in Colorado

Which states pay homeschoolers, and how: Colorado next to every other state.

Questions parents ask

Do I have to tell anyone I am homeschooling in Colorado?

The parent gives written notice to any Colorado school district 14 days before starting the program, and again each year the program continues. The notice states only each child's name, age, place of residence and number of hours of attendance.

Do homeschoolers in Colorado have to take tests?

Each child is evaluated in grades 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11, either by a nationally standardized achievement test or by a qualified person. Results go to the school district that received the notice, or to an independent or parochial school in Colorado. The department says homeschooled students do not have to take Colorado's state tests, though a parent may ask the district to let the child take part.

Can a homeschooler in Colorado get state money?

We have not found an official source saying a Colorado program pays homeschooled students. The Colorado Department of Education says there is no public funding available for homeschool.

Every line above is our plain-English summary of the quoted text, which is copied from the official page named beside it. Laws change: the quoted page is the authority, and a lawyer or the state can answer questions about your family.

Homeschool law in other states

All states and the programs that pay homeschoolers

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